What a year, what a team: Celebrating the vital volunteers that bring others home

What a team. What a year. A year that has seen HM Coastguard celebrate two hundred years of saving lives at sea – and celebrating the vital volunteers that risk their lives to bring others home.

It is the people that matter and always have, the staff working day in, day out but also those that get called upon when needed – our volunteers are vital.

They drop what they are doing to come and help anyone, night or day, that get into trouble at the coast.

And they have done for two hundred years.

Milford Haven MRCC celebrated 200 years with a parade through the town


So 2022 has represented a wonderful chance to say ‘thank you’ as a local and national community, as well as a modern rescue service.

This has been done through a series of events across the country, hosted by one of our 10 Maritime Rescue Coordination Centres strategically placed around the UK.

On International Volunteer Day 2022, as we celebrate our 200th year, we wanted to once more highlight how important our volunteers are – to both us and to you.

And to share details of how each area has marked our significant anniversary, in their own unique way.


A year of events at the MRCCs


East Anglia's teams went on a special river-cruise to mark the unique landscape of the area they protect


Falmouth got local celebrations under way as they enjoyed eating scones the Cornish way, followed by Belfast’s procession of staff and volunteers in a moment of recognition for everyone involved in search and rescue in Northern Ireland.

 

Milford Haven’s event temporarily took over the town with a rich programme of events – and multiple banners covering almost every building – before Stornoway held three events to ensure all communities in the Hebrides and Scottish west coast could take part.

 

Shetland also arranged two events, in Orkney and Shetland, as coastguards took the opportunity to share stories, discuss the changing times and reflect on their time with the coastguard. Aberdeen’s event was held – appropriately – on a ferry berthed in port before senior staff were received by the Lord Provost in a civil service.


Shetland MRCC took the opportunity to award long-service awards to their team during the CG200 celebrations.  Coastguard Chaplain Tom (right) was on hand to help.


Holyhead held a spectacular celebration in the town centre, with local dignitaries and senior officers mingling with volunteers and control room staff.

Coastguard Chaplain Tom Ebbens held a church service, before everyone wrapped up warm for the arrival of a fish and chip van – to echo the seaside tradition. The Chaplain has attended all the CG200 events, reading a poem or giving a sermon as requested.

East Anglia, meanwhile, took to the seas – or, rather, the Norfolk Broads – with a three-hour river cruise. The Broads are a unique tidal environment watched over by the Coastguard, who protect people in the more than 100 miles of navigable waterways.

The afternoon saw speeches, cakes shared and good company.

Aberdeen's CG200 cakes


Finally, Dover MRCC invited coastguards from the area to come together for a low-key affair in November. Coastguards’ hard work and dedication was celebrated, as teams enjoyed some food.

What a team.

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